Vibratory finishing apparatus and method



March 5, 1968 E. E. OLSON ETAL 3,371,449

' VIBRATORY FINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. Euyene E @2302,

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VIBRATORY FINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M u? A?! T M] B 1?;

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INVENTORS March 5, 1968 E. E. OLSON ETAL VIBRATORY FINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Io'oooooooooooooooooooo LII/0} United States Patent 3,371,449 VIBRATORY FlNlSl-IING APPARATUS AND METHOD Eugene E. 015011 and Harold A. Michelson, Albert Lea,

Minn, assignors to King-Seeley Thermos Company,

Ann Arbor, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,514 1.2 Ciaims. (Ci. 51-463) The present invention relates generally to workpiece finishing and particularly to an improved apparatus and method for finishing workpieces to a high degree of accuracy and uniformity.

The apparatus and method of the present invention is of the type generally in which workpieces are immersed in an abrasive media, and through relative movement between the workpieces and the abrasive media the eX- posed surfaces of the workpieces are finished. In the past, finishing apparatus and methods of this type produced relative movement between the workpieces and the media in a number of fashions. Thus, in some installations, the workpieces are secured to a workpiece fixture rotatably supported in a tank or tub in which the abrasive media also is disposed. The fixture is rotated in its support either by hand or by a power drive thereby moving the workpieces through the media causing the finishing process. In some cases where a closed tub is used, rotation is imparted to the tub in the opposite direction to that of the fixture thereby increasing the relative movement between the workpieces and the rnedia. Other installations fixedly or loosely support the workpieces in a tub and agitate the tub and therefore the abrasive media therein causing the media to move past and finish the workpieces.

All of these prior art devices achieve some degree of accuracy and uniformity in finishing workpieces. In the most efiicient of these devices where both the tub and the workpiece fixture are moved under power, the complexity of the power transmission and its mounting adds significantly to its overall cost. In others, where only the workpieces undergo significant movement, considerable time is required to achieve finished workpieces having a high degree of accuracy and uniformity. Therefore, a need exists for a workpiece finishing arrangement achieving a high degree of accuracy and uniformity in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum complexity of power drive and transmission components.

Main objects of the present invention, therefore, are an improved workpiece finishing apparatus and method adapted to finish workpieces to a high degree of accuracy and uniformity and wherein the finishing process is performed in a minimum amount of time and the apparatus embodies a relatively simple power drive and transmission.

Further objects of the present invention include a workpiece finishing apparatus and method of the above character adapted to finish a relatively large number of workpieces at one time in a minimum amount of space and all of which workpieces are subjected to a substantially uniform finishing operation.

Other objects include a workpiece finishing apparatus of the above character which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction and reliable in use, and a method of the above character which is efficient, effective and uniform in result.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, illustrating a device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, illustrating the drive train components;

3,371,449 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the fixture device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the workpiece mounting structure.

Broadly described, the present invention includes a fixture having workpieces secured thereto and rotatably supported along a longitudinal axis within a tub having abrasive media dispersed therein and wherein said tub and therefore said fixture are moved in an orbital path transverse to said axis imparting orbital movement to the media which causes the fixture to rotate about said axis. In addition, the workpiece fixture is constructed to hold and locate a maximum number of workpieces in a manner so that each is subjected to substantially uniform depth within the tub during the finishing operation.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a workpiece finishing apparatus embodying and adapted to perform the present invention is seen to include a base 21 having a generally rectangular tub encasement 23 fixed thereto and supported thereon. A set of four rectangularly disposed upstanding posts 25 are disposed within the encasement 23 and are secured at their lower ends to the base 21. Each of the posts 25 has a plate 27 fixed to its upper end to which the lower ends of four compression springs 29 are secured. The upper ends of the springs 29 are each disposed in and fixed to a respective one of four inverted generally U-shaped channel members 31, each of which channel members is welded or otherwise suitably secured to a tub 33. Thus, the tub 33 is resiliently supported upon the posts 25 and base 21 for universal movement.

A variable speed electric drive motor (not shown) is supported in a motor housing 37 also fixed upon the base 21 adjacent one end of the encasement 23. The motor (not shown) has an output shaft 39 extending through adjacent ends of the motor housing 37 and the encasement 23 and is connected to one end of a double or constant velocity universal joint 41 by a coupling 43. The other end of the universal joint 41 is connected to a reduced end 45 of a vibrator shaft 47 by another coupling 49.

The vibrator shaft 47 has a large cylindrical center section 51 having a reduced portion 53 and an outer tapered portion 55 on either side of the center section 51. The reduced end 45 is formed adjacent the outer end of one tapered portion 55 and another reduced end 57 is formed adjacent the outer end of the other tapered portion 55. A sleeve 59 spacedly surrounds a major portion of the shaft 47 and removably receives a pair of roller bearing assemblies 61, the inner races of which are seated on the shaft tapered portions 55. The bearings 61 are each held in the sleeve 59 by an inner annular member 63 seated against a retainer ring 65 and by a lock nut 69 threaded on the shaft reduced ends 45, 57.

The sleeve 59 is connected to the tub 33 by a spaced pair of brackets 71 each of which is bolted to a respective one of a spaced pair of arms 73 which are welded or otherwise secured to the tub 33-. The brackets 71 are each located adjacent a respective one of the bearings 61.

The shaft 47 is constructed to impart rapid orbital movement to the tub 33 during shaft rotation. Thus, the shaft center section 51 has its longitudinal central axis offset relative to the axis of the reduced ends 45, 57, the tapered portions 55 and the portions 53, so that when the shaft 47 is rotated by the motor shaft 39, the axis of this offset center section 51 travels in an orbital path. Since the center section 51 constitutes a major portion of the mass of the shaft 47, this orbital travel generates a reaction force on the tapered portions 55 causing them also to travel in an orbital path during shaft rotation. This movement is, in turn, transferred to the brackets 71 and arms 73 and thence to the tub 33, causing it to orbit. The springs 29 afford smooth and quiet orbital travel of the tub 33 and the universal joint 41 permits orbital movement of the shaft 47 without binding the motor shaft 39. The amplitude of orbital travel of the tub 33 is controlled and may be varied by means of a pair of eccentric counterweights 75 adjustably mounted on the reduced ends 45, 57 of the shaft 47 and which may be secured in desired different rotative positions relative to the center section 51. As thus far described, the structure is conventional and well known.

The tube 33 is adapted to have abrasive media 77 loosely dispersed therein and a work holding fixture 79 rotatably supported therein. Preferably, a liquid compound is sprayed into the hub 33 through one or more nozzles 80 to maintain the workpieces and the media 77 clean throughout operation of the device. A drain tube 78 is provided at the bottom of the tub 33 to maintain liquid content at a desired level and drain off the excess. In addition, the inner surface of the tub 33 preferably has a protective lining 84 constructed of neoprene or other suitable material molded to the tub surface to insure long life and quiet operation.

The fixture 79 is seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and and includes a pair of generally horizontal extending rigid tubular members 81, 82 having a pair of downwardly extending arm 83, 85 fixed to their outer ends as by welding. Reinforcing members 87 are fixed between the tubular members 81, 82 and each of the arms 83, 85 by welding thereto as seen in FIG. 5. A pair of gussets 84, 86 are welded to the opposite sides of each arm 83, 85, respectively, to lend support thereto. The lower ends of the arms 83, 85 are apertured as at 89 to receive outer races 91 of bearings which are press-fitted within the apertures 89. A rectangular fixture bar 93 extends betwen the arms 83, 85 near their lower ends and has a pair of end plates 95 welded or otherwise suitably fixed thereto adjacent each end thereof. A stub shaft 99 at each end of the fixture bar 93 extends through each end plate 95 and through inner races 98 of the bearings and is fixed to the inner races by screws 101.

In the illustrated embodiment, a set of four rectangular fixture bars 103 are fixed by welding to and extend between the end plates 95 one at each corner thereof. Each of the bars 103 has a reduced conveniently cylindrical end 104 received in openings 106 in the end plates 95 for added rigidity.

The fixture 79 is removably supported upon the tub 33 through a pair of elongated angles 105, 107 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer upper surfaces of the arms, 83, 85, respectively, and to the gussets 84, 86. Each of the angles 105, 107 is adapted to seat upon an outwardly extending flange 108 adjacent the upper edge of the tub 33 and is provided with a plurality of bolts 109 extending downwardly through spaced vertical apertures 111 therethrough. A corresponding number of brackets 113 are secured to the outer upper surface of each side of the tub 33 in alignment with the bolts 109. Each of the brackets 113 has a generally horizontally disposed shelf 115 fixed thereto, each of which is adapted to support a nut 117.

When the fixture 79 is placed in the tub 33 with the angles 105, 107 resting atop the tub flange 108, as shown, the screws 109 are aligned with the nuts 117 and can be threaded therein by turning the screw heads. The nuts 117 are sized so as not to be able to turn freely within the brackets 113 but can move axially therewithin. A plate 119 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the tub 33 beneath the flange 108 overlies the top of each set of brackets 113 and limits upward movement of the nuts 117. The plate 119 is apertured at 121 to freely receive the screws 109 so that when these screws are threaded into the nuts 117, the nuts are pulled upwardly against the plate 119 and cause the angles 105, 107 to move downwardly and firmly seat against the tub top flange 108.

When it is desired to remove the fixture 79 from the tub 33, the bolts 109 are removed from the nuts 117 and the fixture 79 lifted out of the tub 33. Conveniently, a pair of eyes 123 and supporting arms 124 may be secured to the fixture tubular members 81, 82 and to the arms 83, by welding for easy handling of the fixture 79 during insertion into and removal from the tub 33.

The workpieces to be finished are shown in the illustrated preferred embodiment as golf club heads 125. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention pertains also to and is particularly useful in finishing other workpieces having irregular surfaces, such as, for example, gun barrels and receivers, cutlery, etc., because of the highly eflicient and effective abrasive finishing action produced thereby. These workpieces are removably secured to the fixture bars 93, 103 for movement therewith within the tub 33. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the fixture bar 93 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 127 through each of which the unthreaded body portion of a bolt 129 freely extends. The same is true of bars 103 as appears in FIG. 3. The outer ends of bolts 129 are threaded to receive the internally threaded shaft ends 131 of the workpieces (FIG. 6). A conventional split lock washer 133 has a radially inwardly extending flange 134 loosely fitted in an annular groove 135 on each of the screws 129 to hold the screws in place on the bars 93, 103 and the washer 133 serves as an abutment for the workpiece threaded end 131. Thus, the workpieces 125 are initially threaded on the ends of the bolts 129 and are angularly located as shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the bolts 129 are tightened to pull the workpieces snugly against the washers 133 and these washers are moved snugly against the fixture bar 93 by the loose axial fit betwen the bolt flanges 134 and the grooves 135.

In use, the fixture 79, with the workpieces 125 in place thereon, is placed in position in the tub 33 along with the abrasive media 77. The angles 105, 107 are supported on the top edges of the tub 33 and the bolts 103 threaded into the nuts 117 to insure a secure mounting. Thereafter, the drive motor (not shown) is started and causes the shaft 47 to rotate and orbit by virtue of the offset shaft center section 51 as described above. The tub 33 also takes part in this orbital travel and since the fixture 79 is rigidly supported by the tube 33, the fixture 79 also orbits in the same path. The abrasive media 77, being loosely disposed in the tub 33, is caused to orbit therewithin and tumble relative to the tub 33 and the fixture 79. This tumbling action and orbital travel of the abrasive media 77 causes the fixture 79 to turn or rotate about a central axis passing through the stub shafts 99, the bearings 91 allowing this free turning movement or rotation to exist. By virtue of the fixture rotation and the tumbling action of the abrasive media 77, a highly effective double scrubbing abrasive action is realized on the workpieces 125. Also, by reason of the workpieces 125 being secured to the fixture 79, the workpieces cannot collide during finishing and do not, therefore, become undesirably scratched or nicked.

This rotational fixture movement is relative to the orbital tumbling of the media and this double relative movement greatly speeds the finishing operation on the workpieces. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, this double scrubbing action is accomplished with only a single and relatively simple drive means and transmission. This fact greatly reduces the initial cost and maintenance expenses for the apparatus over those heretofore known and used, capable of a double scrubbing action, which required independent drives or a drive and a relatively complex and expensive power transmission device for drivingly moving the tub and fixture relative to each other.

By way of illustration, the finishing apparatus of the present invention performs a highly accurate and effective finishing operation on as many as in excess of 300 golf club head workpieces in a total finishing cycle time at about three hours. in this exemplary finishing cycle, the output shaft 39 of the electric drive motor (not shown) rotates at a speed of from about 900 to about 2150 rpm. and the radial amplitude of travel of the tub 33 is from about & to about inch. This causes the fixture 79 to revolve at a speed once about every 1 to minutes and preferably about once in 83 seconds. This causes the abrasive media 77 to migrate about the tub 33 about 4 to 6 times per minute and provides the desired double scrubbing action referred to above and achieves a highly accurate finishing effect on the workpieces in a time not heretofore possible.

Another feature of the present invention is the construction of the fixture 79 and the mounting of the workpieces 125 thereon which affords uniform workpiece finishing and a maximum number of workpieces carried by the fixture. As shown in FIG. 5, each set of opposite parallel sides of the fixture bar 93 has two parallel rows of equally spaced openings 127. The openings 127 through each set of parallel sides of the fixture bar 93 are intermediate the openings 127 through the adjacent set of parallel sides. The workpieces 125 are mounted in pairs or sets of the openings 127, one pair in the first set of openings 127 and extending outwardly from one side of the bar 93, the next pair in the second set of openings 127 and extending outwardly from the opposite side of the bar 93, and so on (FIG. 6). Similarly, the workpieces are mounted in pairs extending outwardly from the other two sides of the bar 93 in alternate fashion. Since the openings 127 on each side of the bar 93 are intermediate the openings 127 on each adjacent side, no interference is encountered between the screws 129 on their heads. Furthermore, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the workpieces 125 on the bars 93 and 103 is subjected to substantially the same maximum depth Within the tub 3-3 and therefore substantially the same maximum pressure of the abrasive media 77 is exerted on each workpiece. This results in each of these workpieces 125 being finished to a uniform degree.

The fixture bars 103 are each mounted equidistant from the rotational axis of the fixture 79, or the axis of the stub shafts 99. Each of the fixture bars 103 has a spaced plurality of aligned openings 127 through opposite sides thereof. The workpieces 125 are mounted on each bar N3 in alternate fashion using the screws 129, one extending outwardly to one side of each bar 103, the next extending outwardly to the opposite side of each bar 108, and so on. By this arrangement, a maximum number of workpieces 125 is carried by each fixture bar 103 and each workpiece is subjected to the same maximum depth and finishing pressure throughout fixture rotation. In addition, each of the workpieces 125 on the fixture bars 103 is subjected to substantially the same maximum depth and finishing pressure as each workpiece 125 on the fixture bar 93 and all of the workpieces experience this maximum depth once for each revolution of the fixture 79. The result is that a maximum number of workpieces are carried by the fixture 79 and each is finished to a very high degree of uniformity.

It will be understood that in some instances, it may be possible and desirable to add more fixture bars 103. Alternatively, it may be necessary in some cases to eliminate one or more of these bars 163 and/or to adjust their location. Furthermore, the particular construction of the workpiece securing means, such as the screws 129, and the spacing of the openings 127 may vary for other type workpieces. Basically, however, the present invention contemplates a center fixture bar 93 and a plurality of outer fixture bars 193 equidistant from the center bar 93 and arranged to carry a maximum number of workpieces and achieve a high degree of uniformity in the finishing thereof.

While a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described above in detail, various additions, substitutions, modifications and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as incorporated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. A workpiece finishing device comprising a tub adapted to have abrasive media dispersed loosely therein, a fixture having workpieces secured thereto and rotatably supported along a longitudinal axis within said tub, and drive means causing said tub and fixture to move in an orbital path transverse to said axis and said abrasive media to move through an orbital path within said tub thereby causing said fixture to rotate about said axis and move relative to said media.

2. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 1 which includes a base and wherein said tub is supported upon said base for universal movement.

3. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 2 and which includes compression spring means supporting said tub upon said base.

4. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixture includes a frame fixed to said tub and having a depending portion suspended within said tub, a bar carried by said depending portion for rotation about a longitudinal axis and having said workpieces secured thereto.

5. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tub has an open top and wherein said fixture has spaced depending portions suspended within said tub.

6. A workpiece finishing device comprising a tub adapted to have abrasive media dispersed loosely therein, a fixture including a frame having a pair of outwardly extending angles at opposite ends thereof extending outwardly of and supported upon said t-ub top, bolt means extending through said flanges and removably securing said frame to said tub, said frame having spaced depending portions suspended within said tub, a bar carried by and between said depending portions for rotation about a longitudinal axis and having said workpieces secured thereto, drive means causing said tub and fixture to move in an orbital path transverse to said axis and said abrasive media to move through an orbital path within said tub thereby causing said fixture bar to rotate about said axis and move relative to said media.

7. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 6 which includes a plurality of spaced brackets fixed to said tub at opposite ends thereof, each of said brackets having shelf means supporting a threaded nut and a fixed plate above and spaced from said shelf means, a plurality of bolts extending through said flanges and said fixed plates and adapted to threadedly engage a respective one of said nuts to removably secure said frame to said tub.

8. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 6 which includes a spaced pair of plates supported within and by said depending portions for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a bar extending between and fixed to said plates and having said workpieces secured thereto at spaced locations therearound and extending outwardly thereof at epual distances from said axes.

9. A workpiece finishing device [as claimed in claim 8 which includes a plurality of secondary bars extending between and fixed to said plates and radially spaced epuidistant from said central bar and having others of said workpieces secured thereto and wherein said secondary bars turn about said axes and move relative to said media.

10. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 9 and including a plurality of first spaced openings extending through one set of parallel faces in said bar and a plurality of second spaced openings extending intermediate said first openings through the other set of parallel faces and having said workpieces secured thereto adjacent said openings and extending outwardly thereof at equal distances from said axes, and wherein said secondary bars have a plurality of spaced openings extending therethrough adapted to have others of said workpieces secured adjacent thereto.

11. A workpiece finishing device as claimed in claim 10 and which includes bolt means extending through each of said openings removably securing said workpieces to its respective bar.

12. A method of finishing workpieces comprising the steps of supporting a workpiece on a fixture which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis within a tub having abrasive media dispersed therein, moving said tub and fixture through an orbital path in a plane transverse to References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1940 Gruenberg 51--7 5/1966 Reichert 51-163 said axis, and utilizing said orbital tub and fixture move- 10 HAROLD D. WHI'TEHEAD, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,371 ,449 March 5 1968 Eugene E. Olson et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 17, for "hub" read tub column 3, line 37, ;and column 4, line 35, for "betwen", each occurrence, read between column 4 line 46 for "tube" read tub column 6, line 31, for "angles" read flanges line 57, for "epual" read equal line 61, for "epuidistant" read equidistant Signed and sealed this 22nd day of July 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr- WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A WORKPIECE FINISHING DEVICE COMPRISING A TUB ADAPTED TO HAVE ABRASIVE MEDIA DISPERSED LOOSELY THEREIN, A FIXTURE HAVING WORKPIECES SECURED THERETO AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ALONG A LONGITUDINAL AXIS WITHIN SAID TUB, AND DRIVE MEANS CAUSING SAID TUB AND FIXTURE TO MOVE IN AN ORBITAL PATH TRANSVERSE TO SAID AXIS AND SAID ABRASIVE MEDIA TO MOVE THROUGH AN ORBITAL PATH WITHIN SAID TUB THEREBY CAUSING SAID FIXTURE TO ROTATE ABOUT SAID AXIS AND MOVE RELATIVE TO SAID MEDIA. 